Political updates: Varanasi votes in last phase of UP elections today

New Delhi, March 8 -- Mint brings to you your daily dose of political news reported by newsrooms across the country.
Last phase of polling in UP, Manipur
The nearly two-month-long electioneering process for assembly polls in five states culminated on Wednesday when the last phase of voting began in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur. While 40 assembly constituencies go to polls in the seventh phase in UP, 22 constituencies are voting in the second phase in Manipur.
Five assembly constituencies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha seat, Varanasi, is keenly watched in this phase of UP apart from districts like Jaunpur, Bhadohi and Ghazipur as well as Naxal-affected districts of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli.
UP elections: Yadav family feud erupts on eve of last day of voting
The knives are out in the first family of the Samajwadi Party (SP) once again, even before the final vote is cast in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
On Tuesday, Sadhna Yadav, wife of party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, signalled her desire to see her son Prateek Yadav enter politics. Though she was careful to qualify her statement by stating she would like to see her step-son Akhilesh Yadav as the chief minister once again, the contradiction in her remarks was evident.
Elections 2017: Do they really care about women in politics?
So much for their talk of smashing gender barriers and supporting a law to reserve one-third of legislative seats for women: all frontline political parties have given fewer tickets to women candidates in the ongoing assembly elections as compared to 2012. Read more.
What it is like to be a man in India today
Manhood, manliness, masculinity are terms which mean different things to different people in different societies-with the definitions mostly swinging between being a construct of the society to being a biological constitution. Feminist anthropologists argue that most of the sex selective qualities are just values society attributes to the sexes.
Rural India trades up on its housing
Rural India traded up on housing needs in the first decade of the new millennium, reveals new data released by the government. A report on household capital expenditure based on the 70th round of the National Sample Survey reveals a sharp increase in the percentage of households incurring fixed capital expenditure, particularly in rural areas, in the 10 years ended 2012-13.
BJP-Shiv Sena's BMC politics plays out in Maharashtra assembly
BJP legislators on Tuesday demanded an inquiry into alleged corruption in road contracts awarded by Shiv Sena-controlled Mumbai municipal corporation in 2016-17-an extension of the political battle between the two parties in the city.
Ranjit Patil, minister of state for urban development, spurned the demand for a special investigation team to carry out the inquiry.
India ready to compete with the world: Narendra Modi
India is going to compete with the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, adding that Gujarat's infrastructure growth story was a success that needed to be replicated by other states. Modi was in Bharuch and Dahej to inaugurate two major infrastructure projects, including the largest extradosed span bridge over the Narmada river.
Sena man to be elected city's 76th mayor today
The BJP, which decided not to contest the Mumbai mayoral election, is all set to vote on Wednesday in favour of the Shiv Sena nominee in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), it is learnt. A senior BJP cabinet minister confirmed that the 82 BJP corporators would vote for the Sena.
At least 60 manual scavengers deaths in Karnataka since 2008
At least 60 people died while cleaning manholes, dry latrines and sewage pits across Karnataka since 2008, reveals statistics from Karnataka State Commission for Safai Karmacharis. The number of deaths of sanitation workers reported in Karnataka has increased from 7 in 2008 to 11 in 2015. In 2016, a total of 10 manual scavengers died across the state.
Karnataka looks to develop satellite cities to decongest Bengaluru
Karnataka will develop a new city at Kolar Gold Fields around 100km from Bengaluru to decongest its capital, state urban development minister Roshan Baig said. This will be done by converting around 12,000 acres land held by the defunct Bharat Gold Mines Ltd (BGML). Read more.
Nidheesh MK from Bengaluru and Abhiram Ghadyalpatil from Mumbai also contributed to the wrap.